If there’s one hero all home cooks look up to, it’d have to be Ina Garten. The Barefoot Contessa has a way of teaching (and tackling) impressive dishes while making the process look effortless. Her recipes are just about as good as the basics can get, and some are so beautifully simple, you can memorize them.
From Jennifer Garner to Stanley Tucci, almost everybody considers Ina their “Cooking Fairy,” so it’s no surprise music mega-star Taylor Swift has also relied on Garten’s guidance and great recipes throughout her years of cooking. Hey, talent recognizes talent.
When Swift wants to swap entertaining on stage for entertaining at home, there’s one recipe she always leans on. In an interview with Elle, Swift shared the life lessons she’s learned throughout her 30 years and recognized this Ina Garten pasta as one of the recipes she’ll “be making at dinner parties for life.”
It’s no wonder Swift trusts this simple, yet sophisticated recipe to satisfy a hungry house of guests (perhaps even a crowd of Super Bowl-winning football players). But, there are two simple tricks Swift mentioned that make the cooking process even easier for the hostess. We’ll call it: Real Meatballs and Spaghetti (Taylor’s Version).
One of the key ingredients in making tender, flavorful meatballs isn’t often the first one you’d think about—breadcrumbs. Not only do breadcrumbs act as a binder, but they also absorb all the rich meat juices and tangy tomato sauce to deliver a savory, melt-in-your-mouth bite.
Ina Garten’s recipe calls for fresh white bread crumbs in the raw meat mixture, which requires slicing fresh bread and pulsing it down into breadcrumbs in a food processor. But, to simplify the preparation and assembly, Swift shared that she only uses packaged breadcrumbs.
After the meatballs simmer away in the sauce, they end up just as moist as if you had started with soft, fresh bread, but the shortcut takes a big step (and a big kitchen tool) out of the process. In fact, several of our best meatball recipes call for all store-bought breadcrumbs from the start, so we fully approve of this swap.
Garten’s meatball recipe also calls for three types of meat (ground pork, beef, and veal). While this signature blend will make the meatballs extra rich and hearty, Swift sticks to just ground beef to simplify the recipe. But don't worry, after you add in the warm spices, eggs, and shredded Parmesan cheese, the meatballs certainly won't be lacking in flavor.
Taylor Swift said she's “always cooked a LOT,” but one of the recipes that will never leave her side is Ina Garten's Real Meatballs and Spaghetti. A dish of spaghetti and meatballs is always a crowd favorite, but Ina's take on the Italian classic is absolutely “sensational,” said one reviewer.
One is to have three back-pocket recipes for a dinner party. TBH we're not surprised that one of Ina Garten's recipes is on Taylor Swift's short list of party-worthy plates. The two cooked together for a Food Network Magazine photoshoot and Ina loves her music.
The one meal Ina simply couldn't live without is roast chicken. She even cites it as one of the reasons her husband, Jeffrey, proposed marriage in 1968.
Garten stated, "I most often used De Cecco pasta, which I think is really good quality." And you will be happy to learn she isn't a shape snob. The cookbook author went on to explain, "I'll use any shape, like fusilli, penne, bow ties, whatever I'm in the mood for." What's so great about De Cecco?
Taylor Swift's best friend since childhood, Abigail Anderson Berard, had her baby. A grayscale close-up shows her son's sweet hand wrapped around Anderson Berard's finger.
Her comfort food is cheeseburgers, fries, and a chocolate shake. Tay also shared this with Vogue, noting that this would be her go-to order at a drive-through. For longtime fans, this isn't a surprise: She told WebMD in 2010 that her comfort foods are a burger and fries, ice cream, and homemade cookies.
Her fame may be relatively quiet — she doesn't have a line of cookware, there isn't a namesake restaurant — but make no mistake: Ina Garten is a powerhouse celeb chef.
“My friend Bobby Flay is here spending the entire day with me, which is so great,” Garten starts, smiling at Flay across the table. “I don't really need to introduce him because everybody knows who he is.”
Not just any old oatmeal will do when it comes to the Barefoot Contessa. "I've had the same thing for breakfast every single day for ten years: coffee and McCann's quick-cooking Irish oatmeal," Garten told Bon Appétit in a 2017 article. And her love of the stuff is well-documented.
If you're looking for a Barefoot Contessa-approved set, check out the Maison pattern from Crate and Barrel, a mainstay Ina has said she owns over the years. Another, pricier option is the White Dinnerware set from Pillivuyt, a French brand Ina recommends for serving ware as well.
Another Ina original that withstood the test of time at Myo's is Ina's easy tomato soup recipe. “True to Ina fashion, this is a delicious soup that's easy to make and calls [only] for pantry staples. Serve warm with a grilled cheese sandwich cut into cubes à la croutons.
Despite her commitment to healthy eating, Taylor Swift isn't afraid to indulge in her favorite comfort foods, such as burgers and fries, when the craving hits. Taylor Swift loves a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake.
“During the week, I try to eat healthily, so that means salads, yoghurt, and sandwiches,” she said. "I'm never cutting out what I love. I try to keep it lighter, but it's nothing too regimented or crazy. We know what's good for us, thanks to common sense."
Taylor Swift is not only a chart-topping sensation but also a talented cook. The Grammy-winning artist, 34, has been quietly baking up a storm in the kitchen — and her homemade goods have become the talk of the town.
Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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